Buffalo Bills kicker Scott Norwood, center, misses the field goal on the last play of the game, clinching the victory for the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV in Tampa Sunday, January 27, 1991. The Giants won 20-19.

SOURCE: AP/Phil Sandlin

Super sad: The Big Game's biggest blunders

From missed field goals to bad calls, Super Bowl failures loom as large as successes

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Who knows if anyone will join the ranks of Big Game infamy come Sunday? But we can certainly look back on who committed some of the biggest blunders in past Super Bowls.

What were you thinking, Pete?

The last time the Patriots were in the Super Bowl, it looked like they’d be on the wrong end of a dramatic finish for once.

Looking for a second straight title, the Seahawks drove to the Patriots’ goal line in the waning minutes trailing by four points in Super Bowl XLIX. Reaching the 1-yard line with 26 seconds to go and a timeout to spare, it seemed like a no-brainer decision to give the ball to running back Marshawn Lynch, probably the league’s best short yardage back at the time. But in a stunning move, Seattle coach Pete Carroll called a pass, and New England’s Malcolm Butler jumped the route to make a game-winning interception.

To his credit, Carroll took responsibility for calling the ill-advised play -- and of course, quarterback Russell Wilson shared some of the blame. But that didn't stop the Monday morning QBs from debating the bewildering l for weeks afterward.

Scott Norwood becomes a household name, unfortunately

There might not be a more impressive and depressing run in the NFL’s modern era than the Buffalo Bills reaching four straight Super Bowls – and losing each one. Their first defeat, coming in Super Bowl XXV against the Giants, probably stings the most.

In the only Super Bowl determined by one point, the legendary quarterback Jim Kelly ably led the Bills from their 10-yard line to field-goal position with eight seconds to go. Kicker Scott Norwood then became a Super Bowl legend by missing the potential winning field goal attempt wide right, allowing the Giants to escape with the win.

The 90’s Bills could have gone down in history as one of the league’s great dynasties. Instead, the loss set the stage for run no one hopes to match.

Leon Lett it go

This blunder wasn’t harmful as much as it was embarrassing.

On the way to a 52-17 blowout of the Bills in Super Bowl XXVII, the Dallas Cowboys collected a record nine turnovers, including one that resulted in a boneheaded play by defensive tackle Leon Lett. With the rare chance for a lineman to score a Super Bowl touchdown, Lett collected a fumble at midfield and rumbled toward the end zone with a big head start. But Bills receiver Don Beebe caught up to Lett, who was showboating and holding the ball in prime position to be stripped.

Maybe it was fate. After all, his name was perfect fit for the play's famous nickname, “Leon Lett it go.” Lett also had a memorable Thanksgiving Day blunder.

‘The sickest man in America’

Super Bowl XIII is routinely considered one of the best championship games in NFL history.

The Steelers topped the Cowboys in a 35-31 thriller that included 16 future Hall of Famers – including one who may have made the worst play of his career. Dallas tight end Jackie Smith, who caught close to 500 passes in his career, had a devastating drop of a would-be touchdown pass late in the third quarter. The catch would have tied the game, barring the extra point, but the Cowboys settled for a field goal.

Making the play even more memorable was then-Dallas radio announcer Verne Lundquist’s emotional call of the play: “Bless his heart, he’s got to be the sickest man in America.” He surely was after the Steelers went on to expand their lead and the Cowboys weren’t able to catch up.

Kick me

Kicker John Kasay played in the NFL for 16 seasons. That’s a lot of kickoffs, but there’s only one people remember.

In Super Bowl XXXVIII, the Panthers had just tied the Patriots at 29 with 1:08 left in the game. The first Super Bowl to go to overtime seemed like a real possibility until Kasay gave the Patriots a big boost by sending the following kickoff out of bounds. The ensuing penalty gave Brady and the Pats the ball at the 40 with three timeouts – plenty of time to get Adam Vinatieri in position for a game-winning 41-yard field goal with nine seconds left.

It was a strong reminder of just how important special teams are in the big game.

O’Donnell’s double trouble

Super Bowl XXX was the third championship matchup between the Steelers and Cowboys. The legendary 70s Steelers took the first two games, while Dallas was looking to cement its status as the 90s’ dominant dynasty and win its third Super Bowl in four years. To add even more drama, the winner would be the first team to win five Super Bowls.

With the stage set for an epic clash of two tradition-rich franchises, it was the less-heralded Steelers quarterback Neil O’Donnell and Cowboys cornerback Larry Brown who became the key figures. O’Donnell threw two of his three interceptions into the waiting arms of Brown, including one in the fourth quarter with the Steelers down three points.

Each of Brown’s picks led to touchdowns for the Cowboys, and he became the first cornerback to win the MVP award. O’Donnell’s interceptions, meanwhile, were so bad some jilted fans in Pittsburgh questioned if they were intentional.